Guitar Hero II

Posted Apr 20, 2007 by TBO.com

Updated Apr 20, 2007 at 12:16 PM

System: Microsoft Xbox 360

Also available for: Sony PlayStation 2

Publisher: Red Octane

Reviewer’s rating: A

ESRB rating: Teen

Game type: Rhythm-action

Kind of like: “Dance Dance Revolution” for people who are too cool to dance.

Best feature: Rockin’ out.

Worst feature: No online multiplayer mode.

The bottom line: Xbox 360 owners, are you ready to rock? “Guitar Hero II,” which hit the PS2 last year, has finally landed on a next-gen console and the results are nothing short of glorious.

This year’s model tweaks an already great game with a new controller, additional songs, online leaderboards and downloadable content.

For newbies, it basically works like this: Color-coded “notes” move across an onscreen fretboard, and you play along by hitting the corresponding buttons on the neck of your guitar-shaped controller. (Which is, of course, responsible for the game’s $90 price tag.)

The PS2 controller was modeled after a Gibson SG guitar. (Think Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath.) The 360 version uses the Gibson X-Plorer. (More like Paul Stanley of Kiss.)

Spandex and hairspray are optional.

Once you master the basics, there’s also a whammy bar — and you can activate “star power” (doubling your score) by tilting the guitar upright while you play.

The 74-song soundtrack is what really makes the game, though. It focuses on memorable riffs from today (Wolfmother, My Chemical Romance), yesterday (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Jane’s Addiction, Matthew Sweet) and the day before (Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Kansas, Skynyrd, the Stooges and the Stones).

There are also unlockable songs (our favorite: the “Trogdor” theme song from Homestar Runner’s Strong Bad) and you can download new tracks from the Xbox Live Marketplace (three-song packs are $6.25), including “Ace of Spades” by Motorhead. (Stick out your tongue and throw your metal horns here.)

Rock on, “Guitar Hero.”